Grant Cycle2018 grant applications closed on July 31 and will be awarded in late August.

Grant guidelines and restrictions:

Funding must be deployed for the stated grant purpose within one year of receipt, unless recipient receives a written extension from the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation. Any funds unused in the completion of your project must be returned to the Foundation.

Minnesota credit unions may partner with non-credit union organizations for grant funding, so long as the project demonstrates a positive impact on a credit union’s community.

GAC Scholarships

The Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) is the premier national event for political impact in the credit union industry, gathering thousands of industry leaders to remind legislators and regulators why credit unions are Americans' best financial partners. MnCUF will be offering multiple $1,500 scholarships to assist with registration and travel expenses for the 2019 CUNA GAC March 10 through 13 in Washington, D.C.

Preference will be given to applicants who have not attended GAC, are from credit unions under $100 million in assets, and have shown engagement with the Minnesota Credit Union Network and credit union advocacy.

The application deadline was Aug. 31. Scholarships will be awarded by Sept. 30.

CUDE Scholarship

A program of the National Credit Union Foundation, Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) Training brings renewed relevance to the philosophy of "People Helping People." This unique and transformative training provides critical lessons in cooperative principles, credit union philosophy, and development issues, while incorporating challenges credit unions face today. MnCUF will be offering one $1,500 scholarship to supplement the cost of the training.

Preference will be given to applicants have shown engagement with the credit union movement.

2019 DE Training Dates:

April 3 -10, 2019 - Madison, WI

May 15-22, 2019 - Madison, WI

Sept. 11-18, 2019 - Madison, WI

Nov. 6-13, 2019 - Madison, WI

The application deadline was Aug. 31. Scholarships will be awarded by Sept. 30.

Professional Development Grants

Funds opportunities for credit union professionals and volunteers to continue their education and sustain the credit union movement. The Foundation apportions 25 percent of its annual budget to fund these grants, which can be used for training offered from inside or outside the industry. The Foundation also supports small credit unions with a program that has established criteria and provides expedited approval for educational requests.

Program/Project Grants

| GRANT APPLICATION NOT AVAILABLE AT THE MOMENT. |

Supports endeavors by individuals, organizations and foundations from within the credit union industry and the broader community. Program/project grants comprise up to 10 percent of MnCUF’s annual budget.

Disaster Relief Grants

Supports credit unions in Minnesota and CUAid, a fundraising arm of the National Credit Union Foundation that provides funding to credit unions around the country facing natural disasters. Grants are made on an as-needed basis.

Financial & Audit Professionals Grants

The Financial & Audit Professionals Grant Fund was established in 2014 through a generous contribution from Rich Gabrielson, a CPA who worked with Minnesota credit union supervisory committees, boards of directors and management throughout his 36-year career. Gabrielson retired from CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP at the end of 2013.

This contribution provides up to $2,000 in annual grant funding for Minnesota credit union staff and volunteers who have financial and audit-related responsibilities to attend various educational events, conference and seminars. Eligible credit unions must be headquartered in the state of Minnesota, and individuals are only eligible to receive Financial & Audit Professionals Grant Fund dollars (maximum of $1,000) every four years. Grants will be available on an annual basis until the fund is exhausted.

Funding from the Financial & Audit Professionals Grant program is intended to cover or defray the costs for credit union professionals and/or volunteers to attend timely and accurate educational events, conferences and seminars on financial and audit-related topics. Reputable course providers include, but are not limited to, the following:

the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Credit Union Conference,

The Financial & Audit Professionals Grant application period will be open mid Oct. to Nov. 30 each year, and grant recipients will be selected by the Foundation Board in December. Recipients will be notified within two weeks of the Foundation Board’s selection. Grant funds must be used by Dec. 31 of the following year, and recipients must submit proof of registration and the grant follow up form.

About the donor….

Rich Gabrielson worked with credit union supervisory committees, boards of directors and management for 36 years, up until his retirement from CliftonLarsonAllen LLP on Dec. 31, 2013. Rich’s career began in 1977

with Bowlby, Anfinson, Crandall & Haedt (BACH Ltd), and continued through subsequent business combinations and firm name changes under the firm names of Larson, Allen, Weishair & Co. (LAWCO), LarsonAllen, LLP, and CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP (CLA). He worked with most Minnesota credit unions at some point during his career, and with many other credit unions around the nation. Rich’s client focus from the late 1980s until his retirement was almost solely in the credit union market. In addition to client service, a key focus of Rich’s involvement with the credit union marketplace was providing education to credit union supervisory committees, boards of directors and management (primarily CFOs, accounting managers, and internal auditors) in the surrounding states, as well as the national marketplace.

From Rich: “As I worked with credit unions in a very rewarding professional career for so many years, I would like to return an ongoing token of my appreciation of the working relationship we had. Based on my areas of interaction with credit unions over the years and my passion for providing timely and accurate educational guidance, I would like to provide monetary resources for credit union individuals to attend top-tier outside education related to financial and audit topics.”